Thrombin like activity of asclepias curassavica L. latex: Action of cysteine proteases

Shivaprasad, H. V. and Rajesh, R. and Nanda, B. L. and Dharmappa, K. K. and Vishwanath, B. S. (2009) Thrombin like activity of asclepias curassavica L. latex: Action of cysteine proteases. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 123 (1). pp. 106-109. ISSN 0378-8741

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2009.02.016

Abstract

Aim of the study: To validate the scientific basis of plant latex to stop bleeding on fresh cuts. Cysteine protease(s) from Asclepias curassavica (Asclepiadaceae) plant latex was assessed for pro-coagulant and thrombin like activities. Materials and methods: A waxy material from the latex of Asclepias curassavica latex was removed by freezing and thawing. The resulted latex enzyme fraction was assayed for proteolytic activity using denatured casein as substrate. Its coagulant activity and thrombin like activity were determined using citrated plasma and pure fibrinogen. respectively. Inhibition studies were performed using specific protease inhibitors to know the type of protease. Results: The latex enzyme fraction exhibited strong proteolytic activity when compared to trypsin and exerted pro-coagulant action by reducing plasma clotting time from 195 to 58 s whereas trypsin reduced clotting time marginally from 195 to 155 s. The pro-coagulant activity of this enzyme fraction was exerted by selectively hydrolyzing A alpha and B beta subunits of fibrinogen to form fibrin clot when pure fibrinogen was used as substrate as assessed by fibrinogen-agarose plate method and fibrinogen polymerization assay. Trypsin failed to induce any fibrin clot under similar conditions. The electrophoretic pattern of latex enzyme fraction-induced fibrin clot was very much similar to that of thrombin-induced fibrin clot and mimic thrombin like action. The proteolytic activity including thrombin like activity of Asclepias curassavica latex enzyme fraction was completely inhibited by iodoaceticacid (IAA). Conclusion: Cysteine proteases from Asclepias curassavica latex exhibited strong pro-coagulant action and were found to be specific in its action (Thrombin like). This could be the basis for the use of plant latex in pharmacological applications that justify their use as folk medicine. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Plant latex; Asclepias curassavica; Cysteine protease; Thrombin like enzyme
Subjects: C Chemical Science > Biochemistry
Divisions: Department of > Biochemistry
Depositing User: Users 19 not found.
Date Deposited: 26 Aug 2019 07:35
Last Modified: 26 Aug 2019 07:35
URI: http://eprints.uni-mysore.ac.in/id/eprint/7037

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